On Wednesday, July
29th the South Carolina Department
of Juvenile Justice's school district held its annual
graduation ceremony for the class of 2009. This year's graduates included 165 students
receiving GED's. Reverend C.L. Shepard was the keynote speaker at the event.

Shepherd, a former NFL football player, attended Florida Atlantic University
and graduated with his B.A. in both Sociology and Corporate
Communications, with a minor in ethnic studies. Upon graduation, he
signed a free agent contract into the National Football League. But he spoke
to the youths of turning to the ministry after the realization that "chasing worldly crowns of fame and money was merely an attempt to attain temporal fulfillment, devoid of eternal reward."

All DJJ district schools are accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools, and DJJ’s district has been named a “Palmetto
Gold School District” for several consecutive years by the State Department
of Education.

The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice does
not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, sex, disability or age. THE FOLLOWING OFFICES HAVE BEEN
DESIGNATED TO HANDLE INQUIRIES REGARDING THE NONDISCRIMINATON POLICIES: Title
IX -- Inspector General's Office -- 803-896-9595 Title II & 504 -- Special
Education Office -- 803-896-8484.